vtec vs non-vtec

Here are a few of my picks
Any Year Honda Shadow 600-750
80s Honda CX 500
80's Kawasaki GPZ 550
86-87 Honda Rebel 450 (good luck finding one of these)
New Kawasaki Ninja 250 (looks and rides more like a 500)

 

Bought one in '83 as my first new bike, it was a cheerful honest machine, would imagine they are a little hard to find one on the road let alone in good condition considering the thrashing they encouraged. :biggrin:

 

A friend of mine has one and hasn't ridden it in years. He always rides his other bikes, and won't spend the time to get it back on the road (new batt ect.). I've told him I'd buy it for HIS price, but he just lets it sit there in the corner of his garage waiting for the day I finally talk him out of it.

 

No bike is better for a sporty starter bike than the 88-91 Honda GT647 Hawk, then the ninja 250.

The Hawk of course would be my 1st choice with value retention to be re-sold if moving up in a bike.
Reason is that it was 'WAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay' advaced for it's time on handling, with decent easily controlable power, comfortable, great commuter, fun track/canyon runner, as well as even a light weight traveler.

just can't beat it for a all around beginer bike, (even a non-beginer):biggrin:

 

er, the 80's VFR 500 is not a bad choice IMHO, and it keeps it in the family ;-)

You'll be able to find many a 500cc bike in the craigslist, don't succumb to the Squidsong of moree cc's and RRRRR's is better.

I bought a '85 Suzuki GS550E for my first ride for $1K and sold it five years later for $1K to a buddy who rode it even more. but that was many years ago. Point is you won't be wasting money if you buy a used 500-650, since you'll be able to sell if for nearly what it cost you, just tires, oil, lube and such to keep it running.

Nozzle's unsolicited 2 cents: Even before your bike, get a good helmet and gloves etc... so you can test ride the bikes you'll want to buy with gear that fits you.

 

thanks for the advice guys, ill check it out

 

i found a 1997 vfr 750 for 2000.00, is that a good deal? it needs to be repainted, and was dropped a couple of times on the driveway (says the seller), has 41000 miles on it

is the 750 a suitable starter bike, or is it still pretty powerful?

 

You are right to be sceptical as everyone says that if its a minor spill, you need to look at things like Steering Head stops, cracked/repaired plastics and bent / straightend radiator brackets. Obviously the best bet is to take someone who knows what to looking at.

 

A 97 VFR is still not a beginner bike. If you were budgeting for a new or newer VFR you could try a 500 Ninja or the newer 650. Both reasonably priced bikes that you can ride for a long time before you feel the need to move up to something bigger. If you are a little taller the 650 will fit better. A friend of mine that has been riding for years just picked up a Versys. Same motor as the 650 Ninja and he loves it. Good luck.

 

comp? It's like an Analogy?, a metaphor?, nope... it's a simile! :smile:

 

came across a surprisingly low mile '86, im assuming maybe these are a little more beginner friendly? its a 750.

how does the 86 rate to newer bikes through the years?